"So, where do you live?" the director asked once they exited the restaurant.
"Off of W. 43rd Street" she replied earning a low whistle from her companion. She laughed while comfortably leaning into the older man's shoulder "don't worry I don't expect you to walk me home; besides I walk half way and take the subway the rest of the way."
"Nonsense, I'm a man of my word darling; that is unless you'd rather brave the subway alone vulnerable because of your beauty."
"'Best safety lies in fear,' is that you motto?" she questioned.
"Quoting Shakespeare, I'm impressed," he smirked.
"I may be from Iowa but it doesn't mean I'm not cultured" she retorted.
"No but it would explain why you're not easily intimidated and rather feisty, if I may say so" he teased nudging her slightly with his shoulder.
"Fiesty?" she stopped mid stride to look at him "I don't think anyone has ever called me that."
"Did I offend that wasn't my intention?" he began to backtrack.
"No," she wistfully replied "I rather like being thought of as feisty" she grinned as she began to walk again.
Derek shook his head in amusement as he felt the brunette lean closer into his side. There was something about this woman walking next to him that he could grow too really like. He was not one for public displays of affection yet she had already managed to make him feel totally at ease walking arm-n-arm down the streets of New York and they weren't even a couple. Plus, her innocence was refreshing and her self-confidence extremely sexy. "What are you smiling at; because I'm pretty sure you haven't heard a word I've said the past few minutes?" the woman in his thoughts asked.
"Truth?" he questioned.
"Of course" she replied as if it were silly to ask.
"How extremely sexy your self-confidence and innocence is."
Karen turned a deep red at the compliment "I have to say, I wasn't expecting that response" she said with a shy smile. "Thank you."
"No need to thank me, love, it's the truth," the director told her. "Tell me about yourself, where does this air of confidence come from? Is it in the milk the cows give in Iowa?"
Karen laughed "You think your funny but I'll have you know my parents do live on a farm with cows. However, I am who I am because of my family and not because of the milk. My parents took me to my first play at the civic center where we live when I was 8yrs old and I was hooked. It was Little Orphan Annie"
"Please don't tell me you died your hair red."
"No, but I did make my mother buy me a wig; and I sang 'Tomorrow' every day for a week after."
Derek busted out laughing as he gave his companion a thoughtful look "somehow I could see that."
"Hey, don't knock it; it won me the lead in the school play the following year: granted I had to play a boy."
"Let me guess Oliver?" he smiled.
"You should smile more" she blurted.
"Excuse me?"
"I said you should smile more; you have an amazing smile."
Derek felt himself blush. What was wrong with him, he never blushed, "haven't I been smiling for the past twenty minutes?" he asked looking at his watch.
"No," she shook her head "you smirk or grin but rarely smile and it's a great smile."
"Maybe I never had a reason to smile before" he replied.
"Then we'll have to work on that won't we?" she giggled. "Alright we're here; are you sure you want to take the subway with me, because no offense you don't look the subway type?"
"You're words wound me" he mocked with his hand over his heart. "I'll have you know I own a subway card just like every other New Yorker" he replied pulling the item in question from his wallet.
"Yeah but when was the last time you actually used it?" Karen questioned with a knowing stare.
"That my dear is for me to know and you to try and find out" he teased as he took her hand in his and led her through the turnstyle gate.
"I have my ways you know."
"I don't doubt, Love" he replied in a thick husky accent and with a stare that caused Karen to blush.
She couldn't believe she had made that comment to him. It wasn't her nature to flirt but something about the British man in front of her made her feel safe. His company felt natural. "Darling, the train is here" Derek broke her trance.
Once inside they found an empty seat and again the brunette instinctively nuzzled herself closer to the director resting her head on his shoulder. "Tell me about yourself?" she unconsciously took his hand in hers. "Kyle gushed over your credentials when you walked into the restaurant; you're a big time director or something. But I want to know about Derek Wills. I mean it's only fair since you know my life as a child star in Iowa" she commented while looking up at him.
Derek found he could lose himself in those big brown eyes of her. They held a purity within them; an honesty. "I grew up in London and moved to New York shortly after my mother's death. I needed to get away from my father and my mother loved the theater." Karen noticed sadness and maybe regret when he spoke about his mother.
"I'm sorry about your mother; how long ago was that?" she asked before realizing the conversation was quickly becoming personal. "I'm so sorry you don't have to answer. I shouldn't have asked such a personal question."
"It's alright Love" he assured. "For some odd reason I feel comfortable talking to you."
"Must be my natural charm" she joked.
"Must be" he gently squeezed her hand.
"You were going to tell me when you moved to New York" she informed while drawing circles in his palm with her thumb.
"Right, I was 19 and terrified. But I knew better than to ever admit it. So instead I used my inheritance to buy a small flat and then hustled to get jobs. My mother was a dancer so I had been trained by her and my father a director."
"Wow I would have loved to have grown up with someone who could dance. I love my parents but they have two left feet."
Derek chuckled "I loved to watch my mother dance it was as if she floated. She had brown eyes and hair like you."
"She sounds beautiful."
"Are you calling yourself beautiful Miss Cartwright?"
"No that's so not what I meant" she stuttered.
"I'm teasing" he grinned. "My mother was beautiful but she would have loved to have a voice like yours. The fact she couldn't sing was something she regretted because it meant she couldn't be a part of the theater. It didn't help my father would never let her forget it by flaunting his leading ladies. Sometimes my regret is I have the same reputation as he did."
Karen wasn't sure what she was thinking; maybe she wasn't thinking at all, but she lifted his hand and placed a soft kiss on his knuckles. "Okay, don't hate me but I really don't know who you are as a director or your reputation; but Derek Wills, the guy doesn't seem so bad. I might even say he is pretty cool."
"Thank you" he told her. The rest of ride was in comfortable silence. Derek was desperately trying to wrap his mind around the fact that this stunning young woman whom he had met just hours ago already understood him better than anyone. Every day he lived his life in the mask of Derek Wills the director that he forgot sometimes who Derek Wills the man was.
"Derek, we're here" Karen said before she pulled him from his seat.
Once above ground it was just a few blocks before the pair stood at Karen's doorstep. "This is me" she cheerfully informed. "Thank you for walking me home; I really enjoyed our talk."
"Me too Love. I apologize for monopolizing the conversation though. I'm afraid I didn't let you tell me about your musical."
Karen laughed "I actually forgot about that, don't tell Kyle please."
"Your secret is safe with me" he promised. "Why don't we meet Sunday after or before your shifts to talk about the show?"
"That sounds great; let me give you my number."
The director pulled out his phone and was surprised when the young woman grabbed it from him and quickly entered her number. "There you go, all set" she smiled.
"Well I guess its goodnight then" Derek said. "I'm glad I walked into Table46 tonight."
"Me too" Karen replied before giving Derek a hug and kiss on the cheek.
Derek turned to leave and could hear the young woman's footsteps as she walked up the stairs to building's door. He took a deep breath and turned hoping he wasn't too late. "Karen" he called out. He had caught her attention just as he was turning the door knob.
"Yes?"
"I was wondering," suddenly his words were lost.
"What were you wondering?" her eyebrows were raised as if to tease.
"You aren't going to make this easy are you?"
"Nope" she giggled.
"I was wondering if I could see you again."
"I'd like that. I go into work at 6pm but I'm free before and after my shift."
"I'll call you tomorrow than. Sleep tight darling" he watched as she walked into her building.